Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-01
A TIMELY WARNING.

Within spacious saloon, adorned
with every beautiful object art can
suggest, regardless of the curious
throng that each moment come and
go about them, a group of men and
women bend eagerly forward as they
watch with intent eyes the progress
of the game upon whose issue depends
their gain or loss.
Among the bystanders are two
whose features and dress proclaim
them to be Americans. The gentle
man looks on with an Indifference that
is in strong contrast to the sorrowful
expression in his companions blue
innocent eyes. To him it is no new
sight, but it is the child's first visit to
Baden.
Papa, why did you bring me here?"
The childish voice has tone of
startled appeal.
"Why did L bring you hereP Be-
cause, my dear, it wonld never do to
say you had visited Baden and had
not seen what had given the place it's
fame. Don't be foolish. Surely there's
nothing to frighten you.
"Ah, but yes" the child answered;
s'there is a look in that young mans
eyes that hurts me. And he has such
nice kind face. Papa, am going
to speak to him and ask him to come
away"
Even as she speaks, before her ia
ther can prevent. the little girl slipped
her hand from his and left his side.
The decisive moment is nearing, and
all attention is concentrated upon the
game, when suddenly a young man,
unnn whose male handsome features
a look of feverish excitement is grad
ually dawning, feels his arm lightly
touched.
He turns hastily to see beside him
a child, with lovely fiower-like face
and eyes within whose violet depths
there is an expression that vibrates
long untouched chord in his memory.
'Piease, sir, come away! 1t is wick
ed-oh, so wicked! Please, sir won't
you Gomez
Taking the child's hand in his, with
out even glancing at the table before
him, the young man rises and quits
his place.
A glad little sigh of satisfaction
leaves the child's breast.
"Oh, thank you, sir" she says.
''Now | must 90 to papa. See, there
he is over there. But first / want you
to promise me you will not go back
there again when | am gone"
"The promise you ask is yours, !"
comes the answer in serious tones.
.But, little one, it is for me to thank
you, for to-day, for the first time,
through the horror in your innocent
eyes, have realized what sin gamb-
ling really is"
He looses her fingers from his clasp
and watches her till she has rejoined
her father; then, mingling with the
throng, he is lost to sight.
Eight years later. A cheerful, fire
lit, warmly-curtained room, and two
occupants elderly lady, and one
whose lovely form, and still more love-
~ face, proclaim the reign of youth.
There has been silence for some time,
and it is the young girl who breaks it.
sit hardly seems, dear Aunt Mar
garet, that but one short year ago
first met you, for love you as fondly
as if | mad spent my whole life at
your side. Aunt Margaret. you can
not imagine how have always longed
for restful home. Dear papa en-
Joyed our wandering life, but never
did. He knew it, too, for in his last
illness he said to me: 'Ileave you more
contentedly, Eunice, for the conviction
that your future will be secure. Yours
is a loving, clinging nature, and with
Your aunt-your mothers only sister
you cannot fail to be happy And
he spoke the truth"
"A year to-day-can it bep How
swiftly the months. have flown! Do
you know, Eunice, that [ am glad you
came to me at this time, for it has al
ways hitherto been painful ami
versary for me, and now there will be
Joy mingled with the grief.
Then in answer to the mute enquiry
in the eyes Eunice raised to her face,
she goes on:
you did not know that had son
"a babe that lay upon my knee and
smiled up in my face-a boy that
filled this old house with merry noise,
but who grew up to be a youth only to
bring sorrow to the mother who loved
him so well, and anger to the stern
heart of the father whose fair name
was of more value in his eyes than
aught beside
s.From his earliest days, Harold was
nore difficult to manage than most
boys; though, will say it and think
it, withal his heart was good and kind,
and had he been left with me, all would
have been we'll. But one act of boyish
mischief followed another, and at last
his father sent him away to distant
school.